In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place.
Old World Traditions
I love living in the United States for many reasons, but during the holidays it usually has to do with all the traditions we've adopted. You don't have to travel the world to find different cultural experiences, you can probably walk next door to your neighbors where they each have their own way of celebrating that has been passed down through their family line.
The love of hand crafted items is one that has been prevalent in my family for generations. We are full of crafters, sewers, crocheters, and cross stitchers. Infact, right now in my dining room is a colorful tree full of hand crafted ornaments made by family members. It started long before I could safely hold a glue gun and every Christmas we made an ornament to add to our collection. I have continued the tradition with my children, which is what go me thinking on the meaning and history of these well known Christmas decorations.
Handmade Ornaments from Around the World-Denmark
These fun ornaments may not be crocheted but they are fun for the family, easy to make and come with a great history.
Julehjerte are a traditional Danish Christmas tree ornament made from interwoven red and white paper, the same colors as the Danish flag. Jule means Christmas, and hjert means heart, giving us Pleated Christmas Hearts in English. The oldest known julehjerte were made by Hans Christian Andersen, a famous Danish author know for his fairytales, in 1860. Children in Denmark make these at school and at home with their families every year. You can make this wonderful symbol of love for your Christmas tree by following the simple instructions below.
To make Julehjerte, you’ll need two contrasting colors of paper, scissors and the template. Traditionally, they are made with red and white paper. The paper should be sturdy enough to hold its shape and hold candies, but not so stiff that there is no flexibility in the weaving. The one above was made with scrapbooking paper that wasn’t as stiff as cardstock. Use the template found here and get a little extra help with the tutorial found here. I’d recommend trying one first before making one with your kids – it’s fairly easy once you get the hang of it, but it might seem a little confusing at first. Once complete, you can even fill them with Christmas goodies like chocolates and candy!
Common Ornaments and Their Meanings
The Christmas Star: When Christ was born there was a great and shiny star in the sky and the star that we use to decorate our trees today is representative of the original Star of Bethlehem, Candy Canes: Are shaped like Shepherds crooks and Around 1900, the red stripes and peppermint flavoring were added. Christians believe that the red stripes represent the blood that Jesus shed on the cross and the peppermint flavoring represents the hyssop plant that was used for Biblical purification, Angels: Of course are to watch over us and keep our
family and homes safe, but it also represents the angel that appeared in Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus, the angel Gabriel who told Mary she would give birth to Jesus. Now, Christmas tree ornaments have come to really represent the interests of each individual family and carry our own significant meanings.
Poinsettia or Christmas Star
The Poinsettia is considered by the ancient Aztecs to be a symbol of purity, and in today's society is known as the December birth flower which symbolizes good cheer and success. They are also said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration and commonly come in colors of pink, red, white, or variegated. As a Christmas treat to you this year you can make your symbols of good cheer as ornaments or clips to use on hats or clothing.
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